Hello: Evan Smotrycz Comment Count

Brian

Evan Smotrycz with Lamar Barrett

Someone tattoo this man extensively.

Massachusetts small(-ish) forward Evan Smotrycz has committed to Michigan, annoying both that guy from the mailbag yesterday and bloggers who have to spell "Smotrycz" for four years. In this, we are united. UMHoops has your googlestalking profile; this is what leapt out at me:

While Smotrycz finished with 18 points & 10 rebounds, how he got those numbers were even more impressive.  He knocked down a one-dribble step-back three-pointer, went to the low block and showed a polished jump hook, got to the rim off the dribble a few times, and even rebounded in traffic.

Versatility and overall hugeness is an excellent fit for the Beilein system. Smotrycz sounds like a 6'9" version of Zach Novak. You can see where this is headed: last year's team is going to be by far the smallest of Beilein's Michigan career; in the future Michigan is going to have like one 6'3" point guard and then an assortment of 6'4"-6'9" wings and like one post on the floor. Smotrycz is going to be a very large wing sort.

Offers were not impressive, with Oregon State his biggest other than Michigan, but there was interest of unknown intensity from a half-dozen bigger schools. Despite that, scouting reports about Smotrycz sound a lot more positive than those on incoming posts Blake McLimans and Jordan Morgan.

As for the rest of the class: Michigan has two scholarships open; ideally they would fill those with Buffalo PF Will Regan—considerably more of a post than Smotrycz—and MI SF Trey Ziegler. I'm still betting that Anthony Wright is not given a fifth year (and is brought back as a grad assistant) and Michigan will have a fourth scholarship to give; that would also go to a guard sort.

Comments

B Ready

April 9th, 2009 at 7:49 PM ^

I think JB would bank that scholarship to the 2011 class, which has several very good bball prospects (Kearney and Amir Williams come to mind).

Musket Rebellion

April 9th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^

We potentially could have 5 openings for 2010 if Wright is not renewed and the inevitable Manny Harris turns pro event occurs. If we hit 5 then Beilein will try and fill 4 at least. This 2010 class has the chance to be mammoth if Zeigler and Regan come on board.

dmontag

April 10th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^

I'm with B Ready: look at how it has worked out when we've had big (4-5) classes leave at once. Spread the scholarships out, so that you never have more than 3 starters graduate in the same class.